Flake wants to back tax bill if it comes with DACA protections

A deadline is approaching for a DACA reform bill. Sen. Jeff Flake recently announced his support for the bill so long as it included “growth-oriented” support for DREAMers. (Photo by Andrew Nicla/Cronkite News)

Friday, Dec. 1, 2017

WASHINGTON – Sen. Jeff Flake announced on Twitter his support for a tax reform bill if it included a “growth-oriented” solution for DREAMers, as well as the elimination of the “$85 million expensing budget gimmick.”

“Having secured both of those objectives, I am pleased to announce I will vote in support the tax reform bill,” his Twitter statement said.

I will support #TaxReform bill after securing language to eliminate an $85 billion budget gimmick as well as commitment from the administration & #Senate leadership to advance growth-oriented legislative solution to enact fair & permanent protections for #DACA recipients pic.twitter.com/MGbWX7JrPq

After President Donald Trump canceled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on Sept. 5, he established a March deadline for Congress to come up with a bill to protect the so-called DREAMers, but Congress is not close to a vote.

For Karina Ruiz, president of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition and DACA recipient, Flake’s announcement itself is a positive sign, but she doesn’t agree with the senator a hundred percent.

“It gives me hope that he is coming out in this aggressive way and say ‘if there is nothing for these young people, we won’t move forward with the legislative agenda.’ And that is very, very important,” Ruiz said in Spanish.

However, Ruiz said she is not in favor of the tax reform bill because “it will affect low-income families that are in need” and “will only benefit the rich.”